Inside the Contentious World of Luigi Mangione Supporters

Last February, Emily Whittemore stepped onto nan shape astatine Los Angeles’ Jumbo’s Clown Room successful a brace of eight-inch Pleaser heels, a achromatic drawstring bikini, and an extra-large T-shirt pinch nan look of Luigi Mangione printed crossed it.

She writhed and wiggled connected nan iconic portion bar’s level to System of a Down’s “Prison Song” arsenic onlookers cheered, and yet lifted nan garment up to her caput and wrapped Mangione’s mug changeable astir her face. “I was like, ‘Ya’ll don’t moreover request to look astatine me, conscionable dress I’m him,’” Whittemore recalls.

Then she ripped nan garment off, threw it connected nan ground, and sat down, “pretending to ride” it, she says. The assemblage of mostly women went wild, chanting “free Luigi” while Whittemore scooped up wads of cash. Even aft her performance, Whittemore kept nan Mangione hype flowing: “I would spell to each azygous personification that I would see, immoderate young group of girls astatine activity who'd travel successful and beryllium like, ‘Hey, person y'all seen nan feline who changeable nan CEO? He's truthful hot, right?’”

Whittemore, of course, was referring to nan 27-year-old information technologist accused of shooting and sidesplitting nan CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, extracurricular a Hilton edifice successful midtown Manhattan past December. The crime sparked a nationwide manhunt, which led to Mangione’s apprehension 5 days later astatine a McDonald’s successful cardinal Pennsylvania. He has since been charged pinch much than a twelve authorities and national offenses, including second-degree execution and stalking, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Federal prosecutors are seeking nan decease penalty.

Since his arrest, Mangione’s lawsuit has garnered worldwide attraction and spawned a conglomerate of passionate supporters pinch opposing agendas. Some of these factions spot Mangione’s alleged crime arsenic a guidelines against firm greed, corrupt wellness attraction systems, and one-percenters. Others find that stance offensive, believing Mangione is wholly guiltless and spending their days clapping backmost astatine immoderate insinuation of his guilt connected nan internet. Yet, nan astir wide recognized supporters successful nan nationalist oculus are nan “thirsters,” arsenic they are fittingly nicknamed.

Once surveillance photos of Mangione’s imagination caller looks—his dense achromatic eyebrows, sculpted jaw, and ear-to-ear smile—emerged connected nan internet, he became an instant heartthrob for nan integer age, pinch fan fabrication detailing steamy chamber scenes astir him and his female friends, and T-shirts, hoodies, and moreover bikinis featuring pictures of Mangione springing up crossed Etsy and different online shops. (Etsy says it has since removed that merch.) In June, Luigi: The Musical, a satire successful which nan character playing Mangione does a striptease, opened to a sold-out assemblage successful San Francisco.